When looking for a lake house on Lake Keowee, there are always going to be certain considerations to keep in mind. You’ll need to think long and hard about which aspects of lake life appeal to you the most: Do you want to be out on the water every day? Or would you rather partake in secluded hikes through the wilderness? Are you looking for a place to ride your horse? Do you enjoy a good game of golf? If any of these activities are on your must-have list, you’re in luck — all of them can be found within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, a private, luxury residential club community.

The Cliffs is a collection of seven of these clubs, and a membership at one gets you access to the amenities at all of them. Those seven clubs are spread across the Blue Ridge Mountains, meaning The Cliffs at Lake Keowee is just one potential of many. 

The great news is that you’ve got plenty of options even within the Cliffs at Lake Keowee. There are three different communities within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee: The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards. All of these options have great amenities and scenery for you to enjoy, and the right fit for you will largely depend on which of those stellar options appeals to your own unique interests. Let’s break down each of these choices.

The Cliffs at Keowee Falls

Of the different options within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is definitely a big contender. This neighborhood includes 20 miles of Lake Keowee shoreline held exclusively for those residents. The Cliffs at Keowee Falls also includes plenty of hiking options. It contains 2,500 acres of forest and ten miles of nature trails going through them. There, you can find the titular falls as well as a rare flower native to this part of the world: the Oconee Bell. All this means The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is definitely a good idea for nature lovers, as would any of your options within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee.

Activities at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls

Another big plus for anyone who enjoys some good fresh air would be the golf course in The Cliffs at Keowee falls. It’s an award-winning, Jack Nicklaus Design golf course taking up 160 acres. A creek cuts through the course, and it’s surrounded by picturesque woods, making it just as beautiful as it is fun. As an added bonus, the golf shop at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls specializes in shoes, so you won’t have to go far to get some fancy new kicks to up your game.

On the other hand, if golf isn’t really your game, take a look at the wellness center at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls. It’s got tennis courts, a fitness center, and a very fancy pool. There’ll be no excuse for not getting active if you choose to buy a house in this area of The Cliffs at Lake Keowee. 

As with any community under the Cliffs at Lake Keowee umbrella, you’ll also have access to plenty of indoor activities, as well. The Cliffs at Keowee Falls boasts a 28,000 square foot Adirondack-style clubhouse perfect for many occasions. 

Keep in mind, though…

One thing you really need to weigh carefully before you purchase any home in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is the location. You’re probably going to the lake to get away from urban life, but if being close to a city is important at all to you, you might want to consider your other options. The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is a 20-minute drive to Clemson, and you’ll spend an hour in the car if you want to go to Greenville. 

And even though we’ve taken you through all the interesting and exciting things to do at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, it’s not all fun and games. All this comes with a pretty hefty price tag. A homesite in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is going to run you anywhere from $100,000 to over $1 million, and that’s just the site. To buy a home, you’ll have to drop at least $700,000. The most expensive homes in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls can cost upwards of $5 million. So, this is not a decision you’re going to take lightly. Read on for all the information about the other options within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee so you can make an informed decision.

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs

Of your different options within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, this is going to be the most family-friendly one. Here, you’ll find the Beach Club and Surf Shop. You can borrow paddleboards and kayaks to take out on the lake. The club also offers a Watersports Program where you can avail yourself of the Outdoor Pursuits team’s services. They’ll guide you through all kinds of water activities — wakesurfing, waterskiing, and tubing. 

There is, of course, also a golf course at this location. It’s a Tom Fazio design, and it’s meant to be enjoyed by families. The course’s features include a set of family tees, and it consists of three loops of six holes. That means you don’t have to commit to all 18. 

This special design allows for one of the course’s other key features — the Bistro. It’s located at the junction of holes six, 12, and 18, making it a great spot to enjoy a pit stop or a celebration at the end of your game. 

This area of The Cliffs at Lake Keowee has more to offer than just these special amenities, though. It’s extra desirable because it includes The Landing and Dockside, both new developer releases on some land in high demand.

Drawbacks

All of the location and price considerations from The Cliffs at Keowee Falls section also apply here. Although The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is situated on a slightly different part of the lake, it’s still fairly secluded, and the houses are going to take the same sized bite out of your wallet.

Also know that because this community within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee is well-suited to families, there are probably going to be a lot of children around. If that’s not quite your scene, have a look at one of your other options at The Cliffs at Lake Keowee.

The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards

If Keowee Falls is known for its waterfalls and Keowee Springs is known for being family-friendly, then Keowee Vineyards is known for its Equestrian Center. It boasts access to a whopping 200 miles of horseback riding trails for you to explore. While most of that is in the Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area, the trails start within the community itself. No matter your familiarity with horses, you can enjoy those trails — from newbie to enthusiast, you can find something to enjoy.

Not everybody is too keen on jumping on the back of a horse, though, and not everybody is going to want to visit the Equestrian Center. That’s okay; there’s still plenty of fun activities for you within this community. You might be more excited about getting out on the lake, and if that’s the case you’re in luck. This community has a full-service marina for its members. You can take advantage of all of it has to offer: Boat storage, a ship store, wet slips, a fuel dock, dry storage facilities, and a launch as well as equipment rentals. The kinds of stuff you can rent include wakeboards, water skis, Jet Skis, and pontoon boats, so there’s an option for most everyone. 

One other big draw to this area is the golf course. All of the golf courses in The Cliffs at Lake Keowee are stunning, but this one might take the cake. It’s a Tom Fazio course that features eight holes right on the lake. Another five holes of the 18-hole course spotlight views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a stunning course.

And of course, you’ll also find the titular vineyards in this community within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee. Here, they grow native muscadine grapes. 

Hold Your Horses

Even though this community may tick all of your boxes, especially with that exquisite equestrian center, there are also more negative aspects to keep in mind. 

This community is even farther out from the main towns than the other two parts of The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, and that might make it a poor choice for anyone wanting close access to those more urban areas. The prices for plots and homes are in the same range, as well, so if that’s out of your budget, you’re out of luck.

What are my other options?

There are, of course, other places to buy a house on Lake Keowee, if that’s your main objective. You won’t have access to all of the amenities offered by The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, but you can still have a lot of fun. The lake will still be there for you to enjoy whether or not you’re paying membership dues. There’s a state park in the area that offers hiking trails, fishing, and camping, so there are plenty of activities to enjoy even without all the perks of The Cliffs at Lake Keowee.

And if buying a lake house is more responsibility (and cost) than you could ever really bargain for, then consider renting for your vacations. Taking a few weekend trips down to the lake to see what there is to see might help you decide if buying is right for you, and if it is, how much you’d really benefit from living in The Cliffs at Lake Keowee.

When you engage in these reconnaissance excursions, you might want to do it at multiple different times in the year. That way, you’ll be more aware of the different weather conditions year-round. Summer will always be the top season for lake houses, but if you’re going to buy a house, you’ll have it in the cooler months, too. You want to be sure of what you’re getting into.

This is all to say that as far as other options on Lake Keowee go, you’ve got plenty of them, and it pays to do your research.

Find the right home at The Cliffs at Lake Keowee.

We’ve thrown a lot of information at you over the course of this piece. Let’s go back over some of the key points.

First is that you’ve got several options within The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, each as lovely as the next. There’s The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards. Each one of these neighborhoods offers its own unique charms. There’s plenty to do at all three — each has a golf course, lake access, and plenty of hiking trails to choose from. However, there are also amenities unique to each of these three communities. You’ll find the Equestrian Center in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, the Beach Club at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, and of course, gorgeous waterfalls in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls. 

This luxury community has many perks, but it also comes at a price. You’ll be fairly secluded, but that’s probably a pro in most people’s books. You usually don’t go to the lake to see a bunch of people. The other potential drawback is the financial cost. Homes in The Cliffs at Lake Keowee can go for over $5 million. That’s not attainable for a lot of people.

Fortunately, you also have plenty of options for lake living that don’t come with such a hefty price tag. Area experts can guide you through the process if you need any help. There are other places to buy a house on Lake Keowee if that’s what you have your heart set on, and there are also ways to enjoy what the lake has to offer without taking out a mortgage.

Whatever you decide to do, there’s plenty of fun waiting for you at Lake Keowee this summer.